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Do you have naturally red or red coloured hair? Then you would know of the struggles that redheads have with maintaining their colour and shine on an everyday basis. Just like any other colour, redheads need to pay attention to their hair, especially in the warmer months of the year when chlorine and sea water can cause damage to the quality of colour.

Follow just some of our tips and tricks to make your hair look bright and silky all year-round.

This inexpensive balm can be used for cooking, skincare, and even for your hair! Packed with loads of vitamins and minerals, you can apply raw coconut oil to your hair as a leave-in conditioner, run it through your ends, and even use as a hair mask. The fantastic thing is that you buy coconut oil almost anywhere, and the smell is pleasant so you’ll never get sick of using it!

Air dry

Sometimes heat or styling products can be the end of red hair since they not only burn the delicate ends, but can also deteriorate the colour. If you are going to dry your hair, make sure to use an oil or serum and apply it at the ends. Otherwise, it’s always a good idea to give your hair a break and let it air-dry a few times a week.

Sulfate-free

The sulfates which are found in most traditional shampoos can be a death sentence to freshly coloured red hair. Sulfates can also irritate sensitive skin, cause a flaky scalp, and even make hair colour seem dull and lifeless. Instead, you want to stick to specialised shampoos that are packed with hair-loving nutrients which won’t cause your ends to break or become brittle.

Stay out of the sun

Or just wear a wide-brimmed hat! You’ll find that red colour-treated hair can usually go lighter, or even blonde after prolonged periods of time in the sun. If this happens to you, use a hair mask at least once a week to lock-in moisture and keep your hair feeling hydrated.

Cold water

To keep your colour lasting longer, only wash your hair in cold water. Now this seems a little excessive (the thought of cold showers, that is), but it’s actually really quick and easy. All you need to do is rinse your hair with cold water just before stepping out of the shower.

This is also recommended to all women with colour-treated hair – it will make your shade last longer without another salon touch-up.

Dry shampoo

Don’t wash your hair every single day – if you do, it isn’t guaranteed that your colour will last long. Instead, use a dry shampoo the moment you can feel your hair getting a little bit greasy. Simply spray a small section of hair (usually at the roots), then massage well to avoid any white patches due to the formula. Not only will it make your hair look nice and clean, but will also give some much needed volume to sad hair.